is there an e-book reader that reads epub and mobi

somebaudy · 12-10-2011, 11:18 AM

I'm planning to write e-books in the future. I'd like to know what they look and feel like on a reader.

It feels like Amazon and its format is the elephant in the room and is impossible to avoid.

It also feel like epub gives me access to more bookstores.

So... besides buying a Kindle *and* a reader that reads epub, is there a good and reliable reader out there that I can use to read ebooks.

Is there a way for me to convert the amazon mobi files to epub and read them on an epub reader ?

Thanks in advance

slm · 12-10-2011, 11:22 AM

If you buy any Android tablet, you can install both Nook and Kindle readers on it.
If you prefer an "e-Ink" device to an LCD device and you want to see your books on a 6-inch 4:3 screen, you may want to look at the Nook Touch: it can be rooted and, once rooted, you can put the Amazon Kindle app on it.

ProfCrash · 12-10-2011, 02:41 PM

There is a big deal made of all the EPub bookstores but most of the independent stores sell Mobi and EPub because they do not want to leave customers out. I would guess that close to 80% of people with e-readers are buying from the store that their device came from.

So you do need to market Mobi and Sony but I have a sneaking suspicion that you will find that most of your sales come from Amazon, BN, and Kobo.

The good news is that there are apps to allow you to read both EPub and Mobi books on various tablets and on your home PC/Apple.

David58117 · 12-10-2011, 02:43 PM

Kobo Touch supports both, but the mobi is pretty iffy. When I tried it there where lots of extra characters and the files were a mess to be honest.

So I simply converted the mobi to epub and it worked much better.

CRussel · 12-10-2011, 03:08 PM

Use the Kindle Fire, and add the Nook app to it, and you have both. Or, at the current prices, buy the non-touch Kindle, and the cheapest Kobo or Nook, and you have a more accurate representation of what it looks like on an eInk device for each format.

ProfCrash · 12-10-2011, 04:05 PM

I think the $99 Sony is probably a great deal for an EPub reader

HarryT · 12-11-2011, 09:28 AM

You don't need a reading device to be able to see what your books will look like on a reader.

Amazon have a free download called the "Kindle Previewer" which will give you an accurate representation of what your book will look like on a Kindle device, as well as on the various Kindle apps for PC, iPad, iPhone, Android, etc.

For ePub, download the free "Adobe Digital Editions" software from Adobe's web site. ADE is the basis of the ePub firmware on most reading devices, and will give you a very good idea of how your ePub book will appear on an ePub device.

CRussel · 12-11-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I think the $99 Sony is probably a great deal for an EPub reader

Good point. I tend to forget the Sony's because their price has traditionally been too high, but that has changed. I just haven't caught up with that change, since I don't pay all that much attention to the ePub side.

GA Russell · 12-11-2011, 12:50 PM

Both the jetBook and jetBook Lite read both mobi and ePub.

Caesius · 12-12-2011, 07:41 PM

If you plan on writing eBooks, I just read that there is a format change (in the future...not nec. soon) coming from Amazon because most are preferring ePub's added html/xml functionality. I don't know if they're going ePub, or something LIKE ePub because I am already an ePub fan and dislike the concept of Amazon's proprietary goo. I'm trying to remember where I read that, but it was just this week. Arstechnica.com?

I guess I'm not really providing solid info. I actually came here looking for something on SD card file folder format for the Nook Tablet ~ I thought it would be a simple thing, but I have yet to find anyone explaining if it is as simple as making a Books folder and if it requires a separate .thumnail (inside the Books folder?) folder for covers and it will (or will not) also read subfolders. I may just need to post the question myself.

jocampo · 12-13-2011, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caesius

If you plan on writing eBooks, I just read that there is a format change (in the future...not nec. soon) coming from Amazon because most are preferring ePub's added html/xml functionality. I don't know if they're going ePub, or something LIKE ePub because I am already an ePub fan and dislike the concept of Amazon's proprietary goo. I'm trying to remember where I read that, but it was just this week. Arstechnica.com?

I guess I'm not really providing solid info. I actually came here looking for something on SD card file folder format for the Nook Tablet ~ I thought it would be a simple thing, but I have yet to find anyone explaining if it is as simple as making a Books folder and if it requires a separate .thumnail (inside the Books folder?) folder for covers and it will (or will not) also read subfolders. I may just need to post the question myself.

Hmm, I would not generalize and use the word "most". But I have not seen any official report which shows ePubs is more popular over MOBI or viceversa; and with that, I mean a truly impartial source. Unless you're talking about authoring here.

In 2010, for instance, Amazon sold more Kindle units than any other eink reader in Europe. In tablets, I think was Pandigital.

In my country, which is a Latin one, people barely know about any other eink readers different than Kindle. And if you mention ePub, they have no idea what it is. Kindle is the most popular eink reader there as well.

To be honest, I would not mind using ePub if Amazon decides to change to that one. ePub offers a more rich format (for complex layouts) But I like Amazon because its book's selection, not because the format.

In my opinion, the main problem is the DRM protection that big stores like Amazon, B&N and even Apple, put on books. People would not put too much thinking about buying this or that reader if we were able to convert without breaking any DRM restriction. I have never faced any issue doing it (both ways)

By the way, ePub is also proprietary format, by Adobe ;-) ....

HarryT · 12-14-2011, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jocampo

By the way, ePub is also proprietary format, by Adobe ;-) ....

No, that's not so. The ePub format is an open standard. There are, however, several different DRM mechanisms for ePub (at least three different ones), and each of these is proprietary.

jocampo · 12-14-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, that's not so. The ePub format is an open standard. There are, however, several different DRM mechanisms for ePub (at least three different ones), and each of these is proprietary.

In real practice, the one most USA customer have or use, it is. Take for example B&N and their online books.

So in paper could be, but real life, it is not. So I don't see any clear advantage besides the rich formatting features.

In my opinion, of course, the problem is the DRM mechanism that companies have implemented.

If we could read our books the same way we play our mp3 files (with whatever device we want, regardless of where we bought the song) would be better for all of us, the end user, the reader.

AnneT · 12-16-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somebaudy

I'm planning to write e-books in the future. I'd like to know what they look and feel like on a reader.

Do you want to know how your own books, both in ePub and Mobi look on a reader?
If this is your question, and you want to know it 'while writing', and not only after publishing, I think there are several possibilities, without having the hassle of DRM-removing.

Most devices do indeed only read either DRM-Mobi (Kindle-format) or ePub with Adobe-DRM, but there are several devices that can read (all) ePubs and DRM-less Mobi.
So you can write your book e.g. as an ePub (Sigil), and convert it in a few clicks to Mobi, and, since it's your own DRM-less copy, you can read both on several readers (My BeBook reads ePub and Mobi).

I found this list of ereaders that read both ePub and Mobi, don't know if this is still up-to-date, but there must be quite some different readers that read both.

•Aluratek:ePub,PDF,txt,FB2,Mobi,PRC,RTF,bmp,jpg,gif
•BeBook: ePub,PDF,mobi,txt,prc,lit,fb2,doc,html, rtf,djvu,wol,ppt,mbp,chm, bmp,jpg,png,gif,tif,rar,zip,mp3
•Cybook Opus: ePub,PDF,MOBI,txt,html,png,jpg, gif,mp3
•Hanlin: ePub,PDF,MOBI,prc,chm,lit,txt,fb2,doc,html, rtf,djvu,wolf,ppt,mp3
•Irex: ePub,PDF,txt,html,MOBI,jpeg,png,gif, tif,bmp

kacir · 12-16-2011, 07:09 AM

All models of PocketBook readers read mobi, epub and many other formats.

12-10-2011, 11:18 AM	#1
somebaudy Member Posts: 14 Karma: 2005720 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Brussels Device: KoboTouch	is there an e-book reader that reads epub and mobi I'm planning to write e-books in the future. I'd like to know what they look and feel like on a reader. It feels like Amazon and its format is the elephant in the room and is impossible to avoid. It also feel like epub gives me access to more bookstores. So... besides buying a Kindle and a reader that reads epub, is there a good and reliable reader out there that I can use to read ebooks. Is there a way for me to convert the amazon mobi files to epub and read them on an epub reader ? Thanks in advance

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Raccoon Reader - reads ePub, fb2, fb2.zip, txt on WP7 for free	Andrei_Shvydryk	Reading and Management	0	10-31-2011 03:17 PM
Problem converting large mobi book to epub	maximus83	Calibre	8	01-03-2011 05:46 PM
Intel introduces a digital book reader that reads aloud to the blind	DonaldL.	News	7	12-15-2009 10:31 AM
ShineBook Mobile eBook Reader announced in Germany, reads both DRM-prc + DRM-ePub ...	K-Thom	News	11	12-12-2009 06:50 AM
Mobi book won't convert to ePub	HarryT	Calibre	4	08-09-2009 11:20 AM

12-10-2011, 11:22 AM	#2
slm Fool Posts: 468 Karma: 4113712 Join Date: Feb 2003 Device: Kindle: Voyage,PW1,KOA, Kobo: Clara Colour, Nook GLP, Pocketbook verse	If you buy any Android tablet, you can install both Nook and Kindle readers on it. If you prefer an "e-Ink" device to an LCD device and you want to see your books on a 6-inch 4:3 screen, you may want to look at the Nook Touch: it can be rooted and, once rooted, you can put the Amazon Kindle app on it.

12-10-2011, 02:41 PM	#3
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	There is a big deal made of all the EPub bookstores but most of the independent stores sell Mobi and EPub because they do not want to leave customers out. I would guess that close to 80% of people with e-readers are buying from the store that their device came from. So you do need to market Mobi and Sony but I have a sneaking suspicion that you will find that most of your sales come from Amazon, BN, and Kobo. The good news is that there are apps to allow you to read both EPub and Mobi books on various tablets and on your home PC/Apple.

12-10-2011, 02:43 PM	#4
David58117 Groupie Posts: 165 Karma: 1020558 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: Sony T1, K4NT (To Wife), Nook ST, NSTG	Kobo Touch supports both, but the mobi is pretty iffy. When I tried it there where lots of extra characters and the files were a mess to be honest. So I simply converted the mobi to epub and it worked much better.

12-10-2011, 03:08 PM	#5
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,296 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	Use the Kindle Fire, and add the Nook app to it, and you have both. Or, at the current prices, buy the non-touch Kindle, and the cheapest Kobo or Nook, and you have a more accurate representation of what it looks like on an eInk device for each format.

12-10-2011, 04:05 PM	#6
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I think the $99 Sony is probably a great deal for an EPub reader

12-11-2011, 09:28 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You don't need a reading device to be able to see what your books will look like on a reader. Amazon have a free download called the "Kindle Previewer" which will give you an accurate representation of what your book will look like on a Kindle device, as well as on the various Kindle apps for PC, iPad, iPhone, Android, etc. For ePub, download the free "Adobe Digital Editions" software from Adobe's web site. ADE is the basis of the ePub firmware on most reading devices, and will give you a very good idea of how your ePub book will appear on an ePub device.

12-11-2011, 12:50 PM	#9
GA Russell Stampeders are hot! Posts: 7,692 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Both the jetBook and jetBook Lite read both mobi and ePub.

12-12-2011, 07:41 PM	#10
Caesius Melancholy Clown Posts: 35 Karma: 50000 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Device: Nook Tablet (had Cruz SE & PDN's before)	If you plan on writing eBooks, I just read that there is a format change (in the future...not nec. soon) coming from Amazon because most are preferring ePub's added html/xml functionality. I don't know if they're going ePub, or something LIKE ePub because I am already an ePub fan and dislike the concept of Amazon's proprietary goo. I'm trying to remember where I read that, but it was just this week. Arstechnica.com? I guess I'm not really providing solid info. I actually came here looking for something on SD card file folder format for the Nook Tablet ~ I thought it would be a simple thing, but I have yet to find anyone explaining if it is as simple as making a Books folder and if it requires a separate .thumnail (inside the Books folder?) folder for covers and it will (or will not) also read subfolders. I may just need to post the question myself.

12-16-2011, 07:09 AM	#15
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,463 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	All models of PocketBook readers read mobi, epub and many other formats.

Advert

Advert